Shardul Thakur (Shardul Narendra Thakur) is an Indian cricketer, Who plays for the Indian cricket team. He is known for his bowling abilities. He was born on October 16, 1991, in Palghar, Maharashtra, India. He bats right-handed and bowls Right-arm medium-fast. He plays for the Indian international team across all formats.

He was criticized for being overweight, he heeded Sachin Tendulkar's advice to shed excess weight. From Palgarh, Maharashtra, he's earned the nickname "Palgarh Express." Training under the guidance of fast bowling legend Glenn McGrath helped him improve. Thakur's journey to the Indian team involved ups and downs.

Shardul Thakur gained recognition during the 2020-21 Australia tour, scoring a crucial 67 in the Gabba Test, helping India secure a historic win. In 2021, he impressed with fifties in both innings during a Test match in England. Thakur is not just a bowler; he's a valuable batsman known for his array of shots. He's an aggressive right-arm pacer, consistently bowling at over 140 km/h and occasionally hitting speeds of 148 km/h. His game is marked by pace, variations, and swing.

Shardul Thakur got engaged to Mittali Parulkar in November 2021, and their relationship took a significant step as they decided to tie the knot. Their wedding ceremony took place in February 2023, marking the beginning of their marital journey.

Shardul Thakur Career

Shardul Thakur faced criticism for not being very tall for a fast bowler, standing at 5 feet 9 inches, and for being overweight, weighing 83 kilograms. However, he eventually earned a spot on the Mumbai domestic team.

He made his debut in first-class cricket for Mumbai, playing against Rajasthan in the 2012–13 Ranji Trophy at Jaipur. He didn't have a great start to his career, taking only four wickets in his initial four games, with an average of 82.0. During the 2013–14 Ranji season, he showed improvement, taking 27 wickets in six games at an average of 26.25 and achieving one five-wicket haul.

He performed even better in the 2014-15 Ranji season, taking 48 wickets in ten games with an average of 20.81, including five five-wicket hauls. He made his List A cricket debut on February 27, 2014, representing Mumbai in the 2013–14 Vijay Hazare Trophy. He delivered an outstanding performance by taking eight wickets against Saurashtra in the 2015-16 Ranji Trophy final, leading Mumbai to its 41st Ranji Trophy title.

Shardul Thakur was picked up by Kings XI Punjab in the 2014 IPL player auction for the 2015 Indian Premier League season. He made his debut against Delhi Daredevils, taking one wicket in his four overs. In March 2017, Rising Pune Supergiants acquired him for the tenth season of the IPL. In January 2018, Chennai Super Kings bought him for the following season. Chennai made it to the IPL final. Thakur managed to take two wickets but got out on the final ball of the match when they needed two runs to win in 2019. In 2021, he was the top wicket-taker for Chennai, taking 21 wickets during the season.

Delhi Capitals bought him in the auction for the 2022 Indian Premier League tournament. After playing in 14 matches during the season, in November 2022, he was traded to the Kolkata Knight Riders in exchange for Aman Khan ahead of the auctions for the 2023 IPL season. The deal was worth ₹10.75 crore (equivalent to US $1.3 million).

Shardul Thakur was part of India's Test squad for a tour of the West Indies in 2016, although he didn't get a chance to play. In August 2017, he made his One Day International (ODI) debut against Sri Lanka. Initially, he wore the number 10 jersey, creating controversy as it was associated with Sachin Tendulkar. He later changed to jersey number 54, and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) retired Tendulkar's No. 10 jersey in November 2017. Thakur played his first Twenty20 International (T20I) for India in February 2018.

During the 2018 Nidahas Trophy, Shardul Thakur stood out in a match against Sri Lanka, earning the Man of the Match award. In October 2018, he made his Test debut against the West Indies but left the game early due to an injury. On the 2021 England tour, he played a significant role in the Fourth Test, scoring well and taking crucial wickets. In September 2021, he was named a reserve player in India's T20 World Cup squad, later replacing Axar Patel in the main squad.

Shardul Thakur achieved a five-wicket haul and delivered the best bowling figures by an Indian bowler against South Africa In January 2022, during a Test match against South Africa. He contributed with a quick 28 runs in the second inning. In January 2023, during the ODI series against New Zealand, he impressed by scoring runs and taking wickets, earning the Player of the Match award in the 3rd ODI.